Protected express-car.



Patented Dec. 5, |899. H. L. BRANSTETTER.

PROTECTED EXPRESS CAR.

(Application led July 22, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 638,55I. Patented Dec. 5, 2899.

(No Model.) 4 2 Sheen-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH LOUIS BRANSTETTER, OF VANDALIA, MISSOURI.

PROTECTED EXPRESS-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 638,551, dated December 5, 1899.

Application led July 22, 1899. Serial No. 724,778. (No model-l To al whom, it may concern.

Be it known that I, HUGH LoUIs BEAN- sTETTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vandalia, in the county of Audrain and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Protected EX- press-Cars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in armored and electrically-protected expresscars; and the object is to so protect an eX- press, mail, or other car containing valuables against the attack of burglars, road agents, and the like.

To this end theinvention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the car, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters indicate the same parts of the invention. l

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an eX press-car embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the car with the roof removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the car, and Fig. 4 is avertical transverse section of the car.

1 denotes the car, and it is provided with the doors 2 2 and windows 3 8 on each side.

4 4i denote wire-screen guards fixed to the ends of the car to cover the platforms and prevent parties from gaining a foothold at either end of the car.

5 denotes a primary or secondary storage battery from which the conductors 6 6 extend to the electric lamps 7 7 inside the car, this inside light-circuit being controlled by a switch 7 and a second set of conductors S S extend to the lamps 9 9, located outside of the car, and this circuit is controlled by a switch 9. These outside lamps 9 9 are protected by steel hoods to prevent their being damaged by bullets, and each hood is provided with a reflector 10, as shown. A third set of conductors 11 11 extend from the battery 5 to the engine-cab, and this circuit embraces an electromagnetic vibrating gong 12 and a switch (not shown) located in the cab, so that the engine-driver can by closing said switch notify the expressman of'a hold-up or attack on the train. A

13 13 denote port-holes, and 14 14 armorplates xed on the inside of the car and provided with a pivoted pendulating guard or shutter which may be moved aside by the expressman to project a riiie or other firearm through the port-hole for defensive purposes, and when the arm is withdrawn the guard or shutter will swing to and close the port-hole automatically.

The protection afforded the occupants of the car is practically perfect, thus enabling them to withstand an attack until assistance arrives.

It will of course be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus fully described myinvention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, Is-

1. The combination with a car provided with an end platform, of a screen 4 extending over said platform and closed at its top so as to prevent a person gaining a foothold from the outside of the car, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with the car, the fixed bottomless steel hoods and their reiiectors fixed to the side of the car, the battery, the conductors and the fixed lamps located in said hoods and a switch forming a part of the lamp-circuit and located within said car, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wits nesses.

HUGH LOUIS BRANSTETTER. Witnesses:

J. B. LEWELLEN, GEO. W. Prec. 

